Afghanistan

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they can provide financial details of the international indebtedness of the Afghan government.

Baroness Amos: Since Afghanistan has effectively operated outside of the international financial system for a number of years, there are no consolidated and reliable records of Afghanistan's indebtedness. More accurate figures are currently being calculated and will be available in the future.

Afghanistan

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide details of how the £500 million of European Union aid is being distributed in Afghanistan; how much has already been distributed; and to whom.

Baroness Amos: At the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction in Afghanistan in January 2002, European Union (EU) countries pledged a total of £1·5 billion for assistance over the period 2002 to 2006. This combines firm pledges for 2002 of over £250 million and indicative amounts for the period beyond. The European Commission (EC) has pledged over £125 million for recovery and reconstruction in 2002 and similar annual contributions for the next four years.
	According to data collated by the EC, EU member states have so far disbursed over £64 million of assistance to Afghanistan in 2002. This is being channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, in the case of the UK, the World Bank Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. The EC has so far approved about £60 million worth of assistance for emergency relief, rapid support for the Afghan Interim Administration and initial recovery programmes.

Afghanistan

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Ministers, Members of the Opposition and senior officers visited Afghanistan; when these visits took place; and how long was each visit.

Baroness Amos: Ministers
	The Prime Minister, 7 to 8 January 2002;
	The Secretary of State for Defence, 5 February 2002;
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 15 February 2002.
	Rt. Hon Adam Ingram, Minister for Armed Forces, 1 to 4 April 2002. Members of the Opposition
	Rt. Hon. Menzies Campbell MP, 15 February 2002;
	Hon. Bernard Jenkin MP, 1 to 4 April 2002;
	Patrick Mercer MP, 1 to 4 April 2002. Senior Officers Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Mr Robert Cooper, UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, 21 to 22 December 2001, and 15 February 2002;
	Mr Graham Fry, Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Wider-World), 15 February 2002;
	Mr Michael Ryder, Head of Drugs and International Crime Department, 3 to 9 March 2002;
	Mr David Reddaway, UK Special Representative on Afghanistan, 26 to 31 March 2002;
	Ms Jan Thompson, Head of Afghanistan Unit, 26 to 31 March 2002. Department for International Development (DFID)
	Dr Mukesh Kapila, Head of Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, 19 to 22 November 2001, 15 to 17 January 2002, 8 to 12 March 2002 and 18 to 21 March 2002. Ministry of Defence
	Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of Defence Staff, 27 to 28 January 2002;
	Lt General John Reith, Chief of Joint Operations, 27 to 28 January 2002 and 9 to 10 April;
	Mr Desmond Bowen, Director General Operational Policy, 5 February 2002;
	General Sir Mike Jackson, Commander in Chief, Land Command, 7 to 8 February 2002;
	Air Marshall Joe French, Chief of Defence Intelligence, 9 to 10 April 2002. shirley

India: Communal Violence

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have raised with the Indian Government the question of the killing of Muslims in Gujarat since February by the Hindu fundamentalist groups, VHP and Shiv Sinna; and
	Whether they will call for an impartial and international inquiry into ethnic cleansing of minority communities from Indian Gujarat; and
	Whether they have raised with the Indian Government the question of the murder of Christian priests and the destruction of churches in Gujarat.

Baroness Amos: We have been very concerned by the recent communal violence and deaths in Gujarat, including attacks against Muslims, Hindus and Christians. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has been in close and regular contact with the Government of India, as has our High Commission in Delhi. The Government of India have given us their assurances, which we welcome, that they will take action to investigate the violence and to bring to justice perpetrators of the killings, including those who have murdered British citizens.
	We are aware of attacks against Christians in Gujarat, both prior to and during the recent communal violence since February. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Europe have previously raised our concerns for Christian welfare with the Government of India.

India: Communal Violence

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will suspend international aid to India until the Indian Government can prove that action has been taken against Hindu fundamentalists and that they have banned VHP and Shiv Sinna.

Baroness Amos: Our development assistance in India is firmly focused on reducing poverty. In India and elsewhere it would be wrong to reduce assistance to the poor in order to try to achieve other political objectives.

China: One-Child Policy

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Dennis MacShane MP on 9 May (HC Deb, 309W), what has been the response of the Chinese authorities to the concerns expressed by Her Majesty's Government over abuses associated with the one child policy.

Baroness Amos: At a meeting on 20 May with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development, a Minister from the Chinese State Family Planning Commission acknowledged that abuses had occurred but said that officials guilty of abuse would continue to be prosecuted. The new population and family planning law would enshrine citizens' rights and the responsibilities of family planning officials. He added that China's eventual aim was to end the system of birth targets and quotas.

Sudan

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received reports of attacks on civilians by either the Government of Sudan or the armed opposition since 26 April, the date of the report of Senator Danforth, the United States Peace Envoy.

Baroness Amos: The civil war in Sudan is being waged in remote areas of that vast country. Communications are poor and information often unreliable or unclear. It is virtually certain that civilians are suffering and dying as a result of the current military activity on both sides. That is why we are redoubling our efforts to achieve peace. We have seen a press release from the SPLM alleging a bombing involving civilian casualties. We are also aware of reports that civilians on the government side were killed and injured as a result of a landmine incident in the vicinity of Wau. However, as far as we know, neither side has formally sought to raise any such attack in the context of the mechanism set up in negotiation with Senator Danforth. shirley

Turkmenistan

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What involvement the British Embassy in Turkmenistan has had with projects aimed at supporting young people.

Baroness Amos: The British Embassy in Ashgabat has carried out more than 20 small projects since 1999 aimed at supporting young people in Turkmenistan. These include support to an advice centre; the provision of a craft workshop and renovated kitchen facilities at a children's detention centre; support for anti-drugs activities and an Ashgabat AIDS Centre; in conjunction with Shell PLC, a road safety campaign; the provision of a mini-bus for a special needs school; and a range of support for schools and higher education institutes. These programmes have been largely supported from a small grants scheme funded by the Department for International Development, with some additional funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council.

RAF Human Centrifuge Project

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the RAF human centrifuge project is running on time and budget; and
	Whether in the event of the failure of the ETC Corporation to deliver the RAF human centrifuge as originally specified it is intended that the contract to supply will fall to another company.

Lord Bach: The RAF human centrifuge project is expected to deliver a new centrifuge facility in 2005. This is later than expected because the original contractor for the programme, Environmental Tectonics Corporation, failed to deliver and its contract was terminated. Following a further competition, we expect to place a new contract in 2003. We anticipate that the costs for the new project will be in line with the original cost estimates for the programme. shirley

UDR and R IRISH Memorials

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they will mark the murders of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment since 1969.

Lord Bach: The remembrance of soldiers from the Ulster Defence Regiment and latterly the Royal Irish Regiment (R IRISH) who have died not only as a result of terrorist action but also through a variety of other causes is an ongoing process involving the whole regimental family of the R IRISH.
	There are permanent memorials of varying formats at regimental, battalion and company level and in addition there are annual memorial services at regimental and battalion level, as well as those held by antecedent regimental associations.
	There is also practical support from battalions and regimental welfare aftercare teams. They make sure that bereaved families are included in appropriate regimental and battalion events, organised annual outings and holidays and that they are aware of specific support groups and the Regimental Benevolent Fund.
	More generally, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in another place on 20 March (Official Report, col. 313W) and 23 March (Official Report, col. 450-451W) that the New Armed Forces Memorial to all those who have been killed on duty or by terrorist attack since the Second World War will be located at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The names of those commemorated will either be engraved on the memorial or in rolls of honour that will be kept close by in the millennium chapel at the arboretum. The design of the memorial will be decided later this year. Funds will be raised by public subscription.

Costs: Litigants in Person

Lord Wedderburn of Charlton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many awards of costs have been made in recent years under the Litigants in Person (Costs and Expenses) Act 1975:
	(a) in the ordinary courts; and
	(b) in the Employment Appeal Tribunal;
	what was the range of amounts which were involved; what sums per hour were the basis of the calculations in such awards; whether any such award was made to a corporate body, and, if so, how far any such award was made in respect of the work of managers or other employees.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The information requested is not collected.

Asylum Appeals

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their proposed limit of two weeks on asylum appeals is compatible with their policy of dispersing asylum seekers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The time limit for lodging an appeal in the UK is specified in Rule 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 2000 as 10 working days. The rules came into effect on 2 October 2000. There is no evidence that this time limit has been incompatible with the dispersal of asylum seekers away from the South East. Asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service are usually dispersed prior to an initial decision being taken on their application.

Northern Ireland Court Service: Ulster Scots

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 15 May (WA50-51) concerning advice from the Ulster-Scots Agency, why the Northern Ireland Court Service has not sought any advice.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Northern Ireland Court Service has not, to date, required advice from the Ulster-Scots Agency. The Northern Ireland Court Service has yet to receive any correspondence from its customers in Ulster-Scots or any requests from Ulster-Scots speakers to communicate in Ulster-Scots.

GATS: EU Negotiating Position

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what respects the proposed negotiating position of the European Union on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) will advance the well-being of the world's poor.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Services are in urgent need of improvement in many developing countries, particularly infrastructure services such as telecommunications, distribution, water and financial services. Better services would provide support for those countries' manufacturing and agricultural activities and improve their export potential. Developing countries recognise the important part that services can play in the context of broader multilateral trade negotiations and are supporting this important part of the Doha development agenda.

Chechnya

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the new relationship between NATO and Russia, what discussions they have held with Russia about allegations of disproportionate security operations and the abuse of human rights in Chechnya; whether they have discussed the desirability of a political solution there; and what response they have received.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have repeatedly raised the human rights situation in Chechnya with the Russian authorities, including during the Russian Foreign Minister's recent visit to the UK. We have also, with EU partners, pressed the Russian Government over the disproportionate use of force in Chechnya, called on them to investigate thoroughly and effectively all allegations of human rights violations in the republic and urged them to seek a political solution to the conflict.
	The Russian Government have noted our concerns but have also sought greater understanding of their position: that the conflict in Chechnya should be seen in the context of the fight against international terrorism. We acknowledge and condemn the clear links between some extremist groups operating in Chechnya and the international terror network, but we continue to stress that any counter-terrorist operations should be conducted in strict adherence to the rule of law and must respect human rights.

Geodiversity

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are proposing to take to inform the public on geodiversity issues following the closure of the periodical Geodiversity Update.

Lord Whitty: None. I understand that there is a variety of other sources of information on geodiversity issues. For example, the Association of United Kingdom Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) Groups publishes the UKRIGS Newsletter four times a year covering a range of issues including conservation. Earth Heritage is a twice-yearly magazine produced by English Nature, jointly with Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. It covers geodiversity issues and geological conservation and is aimed at a wider audience. Geology Today is an independently produced journal also aimed at a wide audience and covering geodiversity issues as well as other related topics. A range of other journals and publications are produced by the British Geological Survey, the Geologists' Association and the Geological Society.

TSE Regulations: Market Value of Animals Slaughtered

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why under the TSE (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/843) the market value of a sheep or goat slaughtered under Regulation 81 or 82 is limited when the value of a pedigree stock may be in excess of the maximum stated.

Lord Whitty: Compensation arrangements in the TSE (England) Regulations 2002 precisely mirror those in place prior to 19 April 2002 under the Sheep and Goats Spongiform Encephalopathy (England and Wales) (Compensation) (Amendment) Order 2001. This order substantially increased the amount of compensation paid for suspected scrapie animals which are compulsorily slaughtered for diagnosis in order to encourage farmers to report their suspicion of the disease.
	The rate of compensation paid where a suspect animal is compulsorily slaughtered but the subsequent laboratory examination is unable to confirm the disease is linked to the true replacement cost but limited to a maximum of £400. In addition to this, Defra will pay the diagnosis and carcass disposal costs. Of course such animals were showing signs of a serious neurological disease when they were slaughtered and would very likely have died anyway. It is expected that owners of exceptionally valuable animals would have private insurance arrangements in place.

National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 May (WA 167), in relation to the annual report issued by the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group for 1999–2000:
	(a) where it was published; and
	(b) why it does not appear on the Department of Health's website for the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The 1999–2000 National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Committee annual report was published in November 2000 and distributed to NHS commissioners and providers and professional bodies in December 2000.
	The Annual Report was placed on the Department of Health's website on 8 December 2000 and can be accessed via http://www.doh.gov.uk/nscag/reports.htm.

Millennium Dome

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to bring to a conclusion the lease deal for the Millennium Dome negotiated with Meridian Delta.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I am pleased to announce that English Partnerships (EP) and Meridian Delta Ltd (MDL) have signed today a binding legal agreement.
	The agreement is for the long-term development of 189 acres of land on the Greenwich peninsula over a period ending in 2025, including delivery of a long-term use for the dome as a major entertainment and sports arena and associated uses.
	I refer the noble Baroness to the Statement I have made today which provides further details of the deal.

Local e-government: Interoperability

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made to achieve interoperability between the e-procurement systems of local authorities generally, and with particular reference to London borough councils; and
	To what extent there is co-ordination between central government, the London mayoralty and London's local authorities in establishing interoperability between their respective e-procurement systems.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We have announced in our draft national strategy on local e-government, e-gov@local: towards a national strategy for local e-government, which was published for consultation on 8 April 2002, that we are establishing in partnership with local government a national project on e-procurement.
	It is currently anticipated that this project will develop process models for local authorities implementing e-procurement, produce an e-tendering package and assist in the developing of regional e-purchasing consortia. It is being informed by the work of three pathfinder projects at Huntingdonshire, Leeds and LB of Newham, which have been funded by our Local Government Online programme.
	It is too early in the development of the national project to say what work will be undertaken on interoperability. However, the development of technical standards which aid interoperability across local government on e-procurement—as elsewhere on the development of e-government—is a key strategic issue.
	Any e-procurement standards which are produced for local government will work within the e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF). This sets out the Government's technical policies and specifications for achieving interoperability across the whole public sector. The national project will also work with the Office of Government Commerce and the Office of the e-Envoy to investigate the desirability and feasibility of adopting specific e-procurement standards across the public sector.

Local Government: Best Value

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on matters relating to best value in local government.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Through best value, the Government are committed to encouraging authorities to secure continuous improvement in the quality of local public services. The Local Government White Paper, Strong Leadership—Quality Public Services (CM5237), sets out our proposals to build on the success of Best Value and develop a comprehensive framework of standards and accountability for local government in England.

Electoral Fraud

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the traditional twin safeguards against electoral fraud, of requiring an elector to vote in person and in secret, should still apply; and, if so, how they will be enforced under universal postal voting, Internet voting or text phone voting.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We are fully committed to ensuring that new ways of voting do not undermine citizens' ability to vote in person and in secret. Nor do we intend to deny the right to vote to those who for various reasons are unable to attend a polling station or find it more convenient to vote by other means. However, it is premature to provide details of how future arrangements might work. To reach that point, we will require further pilot schemes and evaluation, supported by research. We will only proceed with voting methods that are proven to work satisfactorily and that maintain the integrity of the ballot.

Electoral Fraud

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In announcing that the Electoral Commission's evaluation exercise into the 30 electoral pilots which took place on 2 May will look at whether or not the pilots "maintain or increase the level of security at elections", what they mean by "security at elections".

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: By "security at elections" we mean that new methods of voting should maintain the integrity and secrecy of the ballot and provide safeguards against those who may attempt to commit electoral fraud.

Regional Assemblies: Influence

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 21 May (WA 87) that "regional assemblies will have influence over a range of public bodies" including the Learning and Skills Council, the Strategic Railways Authority and the Environmental Agency among others, what they mean by "influence"; and how this influence will be exercised.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Chapter 4 of the White Paper Your Region, Your Choice, at paragraph 4.17, sets out the nature and extent of elected regional assemblies' influencing role.

Scotland: Generating Stations

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list all the significant power generating stations with their fuel sources in Scotland.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: A list of all power generating stations in Scotland with installed capacity in excess of 1 Megawatt, and identifying their fuel sources, is provided below.
	
		
			 Company name Station name Fuel Installed Capacity (MW) Year of Commission or year generation began 
			 British Energy Hunterston B nuclear 1,190 1976 
			  Torness nuclear 1,250 1988 
			  
			 BNFL Magnox Chapelcross nuclear 196 1959 
			  
			 Fife Power Westfield Development Centre CCGT 75 1998 
			  
			 Scottish & Southern Energy plc  Schemes: 
			 Affric/Beauly Mullardoch Tunnel hydro 2.4 1955 
			  Fasnakyle hydro 69 1951 
			  Deanie hydro 38 1963 
			  Culligran hydro 24 1962 
			  Aigas hydro 20 1962 
			  Kilmorack hydro 20 1962 
			  
			 Breadalbane Lubreoch hydro 4 1958 
			  Cashlie hydro 11 1959 
			  Lochay hydro 47 1958 
			  Finlarig hydro 30 1955 
			  Lednock hydro 3 1961 
			  St Fillans hydro 21 1957 
			  Dalchonzie hydro 4 1958 
			  
			 Conon Achanalt hydro 3 1956 
			  Grudie Bridge hydro 24 1950 
			  Mossford hydro 24 1957 
			  Luichart hydro 34 1954 
			  Orrin hydro 18 1959 
			  Torr Achilty hydro 15 1954 
			 Foyers Foyers hydro/pumped storage 300 1974 
			  
			 Great Glen Foyers Falls hydro 5.2 1968 
			  Mucomir hydro 2 1962 
			  Ceannacroc hydro 20 1956 
			  Livishie hydro 15 1962 
			  Glenmoriston hydro 37 1957 
			  Quoich hydro 22 1955 
			  Invergarry hydro 20 1956 
			  
			 Shin Cassley hydro 10 1959 
			  Lairg hydro 3.5 1959 
			  Shin hydro 24 1958 
			  
			 Sloy/Awe Sloy hydro 160 1950 
			  Sron Mor hydro 5 1957 
			  Clachan hydro 40 1955 
			  Alt-na-Lairgie hydro 6 1956 
			  Nant hydro 15 1963 
			  Inverawe hydro 25 1963 
			  Kilmelfort hydro 2 1956 
			  Loch Gair hydro 6 1961 
			  Lussa hydro 2.4 1952 
			  Striven hydro 8 1951 
			  
			 Tummel Gaur hydro 6.4 1953 
			  
			  Cuaich hydro 2.5 1959 
			  Loch Ericht hydro 2.2 1962 
			  Rannoch hydro 42 1930 
			  Tummel hydro 34 1933 
			  Errochty hydro 75 1955 
			  Clunie hydro 61.2 1950 
			  Pitlochry hydro 15 1950 
			  
			 Small Hydros Chliostair hydro 1.1 1960 
			  Kerry Falls hydro 1.3 1951 
			  Loch Dubh hydro 1.2 1954 
			  Nostle Bridge hydro 1.3 1950 
			  Storr Lochs hydro 2.4 1952 
			  
			 Thermal Peterhead oil/gas 1,550 1980 
			  Lerwick diesel/gas 66 1953 
			  
			 Scottish Power Cockenzie coal 1,152 1967 
			  Longannet coal 2,304 1970 
			  Methil coal slurry 57 1965 
			  Galloway (6 stations) hydro 106 1935 
			  Lanark (2 stations) hydro 17 1927 
			  Cruachan pumped storage 399 1966

Scotland: Generating Stations

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on hydro-generation and the creation of more hydro schemes in Scotland.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Electricity generation from hydro and from other renewable sources makes an important contribution to achieving the Government's objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Renewables Obligation and the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) impose requirements on electricity supply companies to supply an increasing proportion of their energy from renewable sources. The responsibility for determining applications for consent under the Electricity Acts for power station developments in Scotland and for planning legislation in Scotland are both devolved to the Scottish Executive.

Northern Ireland: Illegal Import of Fuel

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much revenue they lost through the illegal import of fuel into Northern Ireland during 2001.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested is not available.

Elan Valley Reservoir

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have been notified of Severn Trent's plans to increase the capacity of the Elan Valley reservoir; and, if so, what steps they propose to take in response.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: None. I understand no proposal has been put forward by Severn Trent, or any other water company, to the Environment Agency or the National Assembly for Wales in relation to the enlargement of Craig Goch reservoir.

Terrorist Prisoners: Royal Prerogative of Mercy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list each case in which the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been exercised in relation to terrorist prisoners since 1990; and whether they will give the reasons for its use in each instance.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is no central record of prisoners released using the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. However the records that have been traced by the NIO show that since 1990 the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used to release terrorist prisoners in the following circumstances:
	providing information or assistance to the authorities—five cases;
	terminal illness—one case;
	remission incorrectly calculated—one case;
	to correct anomalies in the treatment of offenders convicted of the same offence(s) and given the same sentence as co-defendants but who would otherwise have served longer in prison—two cases;
	to release prisoners who would have been eligible for release under the Belfast Agreement had they not transferred to a different jurisdiction—two cases;
	to release prisoners who would have been eligible to be released under the Belfast Agreement had their offences (which subsequently became scheduled offences) been scheduled at the time they were committed—eight cases;
	to release prisoners who would have been eligible to be released under the Belfast Agreement had they not served sentences outside the jurisdiction having been convicted extraterritorially—five cases.
	In addition, it was the practice before 1995 to release using the RPM terrorist and non-terrorist prisoners whose release date fell while they were on Christmas home leave.

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Dangerous Substances

Baroness Wilkins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the provisions of Part 7 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 will be implemented.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The new controls on holdings of 47 specified dangerous substances will come into force on 31 May. Steps are being taken to ensure that those bodies who may be affected by the new controls are aware of their obligations. I should like to take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation for the co-operation we have received from the research community in improving standards of security for the substances in question in advance of the implementation of the new controls.